Time Warner, Lakers and Dodgers Face Class Claim for $11 Billion Sports Packages
Costs of Time Warner Cable’s $11 billion deal to broadcast Dodgers and Lakers games are unlawfully passed on to subscribers - whether they’re interested in sports or not, customers claim in a class action.
Sherry Fischer and three other named plaintiffs sued Time Warner Cable, the Lakers and the Dodgers, in Superior Court. The class takes aim at two deals. In 2011, Timer Warner agreed to a $3 billion, 20-year deal to televise Lakers games. The class claims the direct and indirect costs to subscribers are an extra $4 per month.
Time Warner cut an $8 billion deal in January to broadcast Dodgers games. The class claims that 25-year agreement adds an extra $4 to $5 per month to cable bills - $50 to $60 per year. The programming is bundled into “enhanced” basic cable service, according to the complaint.
More: Courthouse News Service